Rochester vs Cornell
Nestled in the heart of New York State, University of Rochester and Cornell University stand as two beacons of academic excellence, each offering a distinct educational experience. While both institutions share a commitment to academic rigor and research, they differ in several key aspects. University of Rochester boasts a highly selective admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 32%, while Cornell University is slightly more accessible, with an acceptance rate of 14%. In terms of student body demographics, University of Rochester has a smaller undergraduate population, fostering a close-knit community, while Cornell University's larger student body provides a more diverse and vibrant campus life. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details about these esteemed institutions, including popular majors, graduation rates, and additional factors that may influence your decision in choosing the ideal academic environment for your higher education journey.
|
![]() Cornell University |
![]() University of Rochester |
---|---|---|
Overview |
||
Location | Ithaca, New York | Rochester, New York |
Campus setting | City: Small | City: Midsize |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 97.0% | 91.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
|
||
Admission |
||
Acceptance rate | 8.7% | 40.5% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$80
Graduate:
$105
|
Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$50
|
SAT range | 1450 - 1560 | 1370 - 1520 |
ACT range | 33 - 35 | 31 - 35 |
Students submitting SAT score | 41.0% | 22.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 20.0% | 7.0% |
Total number of applicants | 67,380 | 19,543 |
Total number of admissions given out | 5,852 | 7,924 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 3,718 | 1,623 |
Yield rate | 63.5% | 20.5% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
|
||
Tuition and Fees |
||
Sticker price | $80,287 | $79,456 |
Average net price | $24,262 | $40,125 |
Tuition | $60,286 | $58,276 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$9,962
Meal plan:
$6,434
|
Room/dormitory:
$10,692
Meal plan:
$6,696
|
Available payment plans |
|
|
|
||
Financial Aid |
||
Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
50.0%
Average amount $52,674 |
75.0%
Average amount $37,870 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
26.0%
Average amount $3,924 |
37.0%
Average amount $4,351 |
Students taking out private loans |
16.0%
Average amount $8,357 |
7.0%
Average amount $22,054 |
|
||
Students and Campus |
||
Undergraduate students |
15,503
Men 46.1% Women 53.9% |
6,568
Men 48.0% Women 52.0% |
Graduate students |
10,079
Men 51.0% Women 49.0% |
5,471
Men 44.9% Women 55.1% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
|
Low
|
Out-of-state students | 64.3% | N/A |
International students | 24.4% | 30.7% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | City: Midsize |
Dormitory capacity | 7,422 | 1,350 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | Yes |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | New York California New Jersey Florida Pennsylvania | N/A |
|
||
Academics |
||
Popular study areas |
|
|
Students to faculty ratio | 9:1 | 10:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Middle States Commission on Higher Education | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
|
||
Outcome |
||
Graduation rate | 94.1% | 85.9% |
Dropout rate | 5.2% | 4.2% |
Transferred out | N/A | 8.8% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Law (Doctoral Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
Operations Research (Master's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Systems Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
|
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Master's Degrees)
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
Compare Similar Colleges
The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing
statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you
don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page.
There, you can search for the
specific colleges and initiate your comparison.








































































































































































































